The Mouse Catchers 1740 - 1755

This porcelain group titled 'The Mouse Catchers' was crafted by the Capodimonte Porcelain Manufactory. Here, we witness a scene animated by the eternal struggle against chaos. The figures, engaged in their hunt, evoke a deeper symbolic resonance. Observe the broom—an instrument of purification, historically linked to expelling malevolent forces from domestic spaces. The act of cleansing is an ancient motif, echoed in folklore and ritual across cultures. Consider the folklore of the Pied Piper, who uses music to rid the town of rats. Similarly, the figures in this porcelain group address fears of infestation and contamination, tapping into primal anxieties about purity and order. This universal confrontation with the forces of disorder manifests across time, revealing the cyclical progression of cultural symbols.